Effect of a screening program on changing patterns of lead poisoning.

A biphase program of screening and treating high-risk children for lead poisoning resulted in a 30% fall in mean lead values in the target areas over a 5-year period. The mean and median for subjects under 6 years was 4-10 mug/100 ml higher than for those over 6. Median for a high incidence area was 42 mug/100 ml in 1967 and 30.0 in 1971; for a low incidence area, 33 and 20 mug/100 ml in the equivalent years. Ingestion of lead paint was observed or demonstrated by x-ray in 90% of 2200 patients treated in the Lead Clinic. Gross neurologic sequelae were limited to two cases of mild, persistent ataxia. Impaired intellectual performance was observed subsequently in several asymptomatic patients with initial blood lead levels (PbB) >/= 100 mug/100 ml.